Question
Was the altar built before the Temple? Was it on the site of Abraham’s altar?
Answer
The First Temple was built on Mount Moriah (2 Chron.3:1), but Abraham’s altar isn’t mentioned; rather, the spot where the Temple was built was the threshing floor of Araunah/Ornan the Jebusite, where David had built an altar (see 2 Sam.24:18-25). The altar was built (and used) before the Second Temple itself was built; see Ezra 3:2-3,6.